Redessociales

Guilt, guilt, guilt.  Guilt is a terrible feeling and is often self-inflicted by creative entrepreneurs, especially during the holidays.
Most people who work for themselves say they chose to do so because they wanted to “control their time.”  People who value time over money, recognize that time is a precious commodity that cannot be created, bought, or borrowed.  You have to use it wisely or else it is gone.
Having the luxury to control how, with whom, and where you spend your time is one of the bonuses of working for yourself.  So, why is it that an overwhelming number of female entrepreneurs also say they feel guilty when they are not working on their businesses or with a client between the hours of 9 am to 5 pm?
To be truly happy and successful as an entrepreneur, you must break the corporate-created walls of time and learn how to set your day according to your needs and the needs of your clients.  There is no law chaining you to your desk eight hours a day between 9 am and 5 pm.
Here’s my advice: stop feeling guilty about when you are working and when you are not, and ditch the idea of playing by rules set up by other organizations.  Make sure you benefit from the freedoms of entrepreneurship and maximize your time by performing regular activities such as food shopping at off times like 10 am on a Tuesday or having your teeth cleaned at 2pm on a Monday.   You will spend less time waiting in line, you will be less stressed, and actually have more time to devote to your clients and other activities, then if you went on a weekend or during a busier time.
Of course, be sure to take a day or two off completely during the holidays to go gift shopping, ice-skating, or for decorating your home.  Give yourself permission to enjoy your life and do something for yourself, even if it is on a week day between nine and five.  You deserve it.
Happy holidays!

Occasionally I read some really compelling information regarding business strategies and I’d like to share with you a concept in the power of targeted marketing that has really caught my attention.  The idea in this concept is for a person to focus his/her marketing efforts toward a specific audience who holds an interest in the very product/service being sold.  When marketing strategies of this nature are applied, the results are exceedingly more beneficial than when a more generally targeted strategy is used.  For example, if marketing to a general audience who holds interests in a wide range of products/services as apposed to a targeted, specific product/service, the results in sales generated from this effort would be greatly diminished compared to the results in sales realized through focusing on a concentrated interest among an audience.  The reason for this is because within an audience of people with a large range of interests only a few of the people will find interest in the product/service offered to them.  Conversely, when marketing to an audience of people who all hold the same interest in the product/service being offered, every single person in your audience is much more apt to respond to the marketing efforts.  This concept can be likened to a ship at sea that is focused on a specific destination (or target.)  If the ship maintains it’s aim toward the specific target, the ship will effectively reach its target because of the concentrated effort.  However, if the ship is aimed in a wide range of directions, the ship’s target will in effect be missed and there will be a great deal of effort and energy wasted as the ship meanders here and there.  Targeting a specific audience with a specific interest enables you to avoid wasted marketing efforts, time and money.  And this is the true power that is found in targeted marketing.

Hey Folks,

I was recently at a conference with my colleagues and heard from one of the top entrepreneurs in my business the ultimate in explanation for what defines an entrepreneur.  Most people use the word entrepreneur very loosely and I think that the following will set the record straight.

An Entrepreneur is personally growing

An Entrepreneur is always learning

An Entrepreneur is always looking for opportunities everywhere

An Entrepreneur is seeking advice from qualified people

An Entrepreneur invests in their future

An Entrepreneur is willing to pay a price

An Entrepreneur supports their own business

An Entrepreneur is developing others

An Entrepreneur is a blessing to their community

An Entrepreneur is always developing people skills

An Entrepreneur is an ambassador for their business

An Entrepreneur takes responsibility

An Entrepreneur understands that for every adversary carries with it the seed of equal benefit

by Clarence Chan

DOING BUSINESS ONLINE COMPARED TO OFFLINE

What makes a successful internet entrepreneur? In some ways being an internet entrepreneur is no different from being an entrepreneur in any other field. The qualities of perseverance, business acumen, creativity, initiative, optimism, diligence, cooperativeness, work excellence etc are universally required for any entrepreneur. These qualities determine the success or failure of any business whether online or offline.

However in my personal experience, I have found that there is a distinct set of qualities the internet entrepreneur needs that the offline entrepreneur does not require. Doing business over the internet is quite different from doing business face-to-face. I have had first hand experience doing business both ways. In any offline business whether retail or wholesale, providing services or products, locally or internationally, business is often transacted and concluded because of personal contacts. Customer relationships are developed mostly through personal meetings or over the phone. This requires great skill in communication and negotiation on the part of the entrepreneur.